Our East Cornwall office held a big party with music, games and BBQ food so people we support, staff and family members could get together and celebrate our 50th anniversary.

The party had a 1970s theme with lots of entertainment and a fancy dress competition. Our resident crafters Alison and Cheesy’s Craft Club made decorations for the party, including bunting, and they helped to decorate the office.

Bunting made by people we support.

The stocks – provided by Ray Porter – were a highlight for many of our guests. Marc Boyden, our Area Manager for Cornwall, was locked in the stocks while people took turns throwing wet sponges at him. Some even managed to pour buckets of water over Marc!

Nick Marshall provided a music corner which our PBS and Practice Coach, Ryan Stansfield, got involved with. People we support also got involved, performing live music for the party.

The music corner in full swing.

There was ‘catch-a-duck’ and face painting and we even had a photo booth area with costumes and props. The inflatable guitars were a popular choice!

Staff enjoying the photo booth.

Guests also enjoyed entertainment from husband-and-wife team, Mark and Hollie Roberts. The couple own events business Queenie and the Jester. Mark was walking around on stilts and they both performed juggling and bubbles too.

Mark demonstrating his stilt skills.

A big thank you

Our staff always go above and beyond to make sure people we support live their best lives. The 50th party in Cornwall was yet another demonstration of how our staff put in maximum effort every day.

The day was a huge success enjoyed by everyone there, thanks to support from staff, family members and local businesses.

A lot of people contributed to our East Cornwall 50th anniversary celebrations and we’d like to thank:

  • Ray Porter for providing the stocks
  • Tom for being our bbq chef
  • Mark and Hollie for providing their circus skills and entertainment
  • Nick for organising the music corner
  • Charlotte Spendiff’s Grandma for the teddies for the tombola

Donations from local businesses

We also want to say a big thank you to some wonderful local businesses who donated to the party:

  • Tesco for contributing flavored water, food for our buffet and tombola prizes
  • Ginsters for pasties and a hamper for the fancy dress competition (thanks again to Sarah Perkins for organising the pasties, you’re a star!)
Pasties from Ginsters

50 Years of United Response

For 50 years, United Response has been a champion of community-based support and first provided services in Cornwall in the early 2000s. 

Founded in 1973 with one home to move people out of institutions, we now have a network of services from Darlington to Devon and Nottingham to Cwmbran. 

Over half a century, we’ve seen how attitudes have changed, and government policy has improved to make significant improvements to the lives of disabled people. But there is still so much more work to do. Our 50th anniversary is our opportunity to celebrate all we and the people we support have achieved. We are shining a light on lives too often left out of the conversation. 

Read next: 50 years of United Response